Utah DT on Quizz ... "we're going to have to contain this kid''

WEDNESDAY ... While an anxious Portland media market awaits more news on Greg Oden's latest injury, we soldier on with the mundane task of following Oregon State football. ... is it a good thing when OSU is the adopted team of radio/TV icon (that's $20 for me) Dan Patrick? ... guess we will find out. ...1 p.m. Delta flight to Salt Lake City. ... how many O. writers does it take to cover an Oregon State-Utah game? Apparently, three.

We would tell Quizz to snap on his chin strap, because the Utah defense is wise to him, but Quizz isn't wearing a helmet here. OSU meets No. 15 Utah Thursday night at Rice-Eccles Stadium, which has been a graveyard for the Pac-10.

No hair-brained predictions on this one. Not after the man-bites-dog week we just had in college football. Not after watching OSU's supposedly inferior athletes take No. 1-ranked USC to the woodshed (that cliche brought to you by The Dead Goat Saloon in SLC).

Oregon State freshman Jacquizz Rodgers, who ran for 186 yards and two touchdowns in last week's 27-21 win over then top-ranked USC, is expected to provide the 15th-ranked Utes with quite a challenge in Thursday night's game at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

"Obviously, the main goal is to win the football game. But I think in order to win the football game, we're going to have to contain this kid. He's obviously going to get some yards. He's a good back," said Utah defensive tackle Greg Newman.

"We've just got to do our best to stop him and make him get in long-yard situations so we can get our pass rush going. I think that's going to be our main goal."

Rodgers, who is just 5-foot-7 and 195 pounds, leads all freshmen running backs in the nation with 449 yards rushing over four games. His per game average is significantly higher than the 60.2 rushing yards per game that Utah's defense has been giving up. The Utes' rushing defense is ranked fifth in the nation.

You can see the rope-a-dope coming from OSU. .. the Utes are so pre-occupied, they don't see the oncoming headlights of No. 24. ... I maintain that redshirt freshman Ryan McCants is going to be a factor down the stretch. Maybe, as early as Thursday night.

P.S. ... I was not able to locate the OSU notebook that ran in Tuesday's paper on our website. I would insert my typical quip here about how difficult it can be to navigate OregonLive, but if you are reading this (by accident?), you already know.